The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-05-18
OUTDOOR SPORTS.

OUTDOOR SPORTS.
During the past few years there has been !
marked revival OF interest in outdoor |
sports. The American can no longer be |
twitted for his indoor inclinations, but is |
to be congratulated upon the fondness he
evinces for those amusements and diver
sions to which clear air and blue sky are
necessities. A character IN one Of Craw-
ford's novels, representing the thrifty
young American, astonishes DR.. Claudius
by calling for a carriage whenever he had
even the shortest distances to travel.
''Do you never waikiki asks the doctor.
But this aversion to pedestrianism is
not so strong as it was. Thoreau and Bur-
roughs, tramping their favorite fields, have
helped destroy it, and physicians have
aided by recommending the matutinal
constitutional" By the grace of broad
license, walking may now be styled an
outdoor amusement; books on herbs a2d
trees are selling, and there is quite an army
of saunierers within the borders of Indi-
ana. Following the thought of the Per-
sian poet Ha6z they would "break up the
tiresome old roof of heaven into new
FARMS" and find each delightful. 1t is a
truth that the American is governed large
ly by prevailing fashion in the matter Of
his amusements and sports. few
years ago, it will be recalled, Mr.. Maurice
Thompson printed few sketches on arch
cry in the magazines, and followed their
general acceptance by the publication of a
volume on the witchery OF bow aud arrow
Almost Immediately archery clubs spraug
into existence all over the country, and
the manufacture of outfits for the tox-
ophilite became paying'industry. Robin
Hood stepped forth into popularity, and
the twsng of the bow-string was every
where heard in the land. Although it did
not last long the craze was good while it
lasted, as was also croquet. This game of
lawn billiards held its own against
all rivals for period, but now the mallet
and ball pass away and the tennis court
makes its appearance. Tennis is certainly
not so tedious as its predecessor on the
lawn, and the racket seems to be adapting
itself readily to the hand of the Westerner.
The advent of the hy-rod has been slow,
because of a deep-rooted idea in many
minds that nothing equals bean pole,
with hook and worm connection, when
the willy bass is to be lUred. With the recog-
milton of fishing as a fashionable pleasure
comes the camper-out, and it is no I'M
common thing to find families con-
templating with pleasure the return
of summer in view of prospective days OF
freedom. Whether at all times fashiona-
BILE or not, it is certainly delightful to turn
to fresh fields and forest wilds from the
heat, dust and noise of the city. Nature
did not spill enough water in Indiana to
make yachting feasible to any considerable
extent, but the yachts graceful sister, the
canoe, may be padded or sailed in the most
insignificant mill.p Canoeing is a
healthful sport, in which ladies and gentle
men may freely indulge, and unfolds to the
weilder of the paddle the manifold beau
ties of the outer world. There are
canoe clubs both East and West, and the
number is increasing. The bicycle and tri-
cycle, so recently rolled into sight on their
IuDDcI t1Coi oAO oeAA NOAAOSA0AOS IL
many parts of the country. They are We
hicles that serve for business or pleasure
without change. The rider is able to carry
with him all the luggage necessary Tor
a spin through the country, and when
he straps an amateur photographers out
fit to his saddle is prepared to enjoy life to
the full. And afterward, by developing
his negatives, he may review his journey
while the snow is on the ground. Except the
small boy who eDj oys the national game on
the common, with his barefooted COM
panions, nobody must play baseball in
this generation. 1t is the proper thing to
view the game from a shady grand stand
and let others perform the labor for
specified remuneration. Now and then
there is an outburst of cricket, inspired by
Tom Brownies school days, or slight at
tack of foot ball, but principally in the
shadow of the university. The outlook
for outdoor sports in this country is more
encouraging that ever before. This is
evidenced by the number of publications
devoted to sports and the literature to
which it gives rise. The American is
gradually realizing the harms and dangers
attending too close application to work or
study. He discovers that it pays to make
haste slowly and enjoy himself as he passes
along.